looking at our team schedule, you would think that the pats should steamroll through it to 16-0 maybe 13-3 at worst right? well lets take into consideration that teams usually change from season to season some get better from the previous season some get worse or stay the same. Every Team entered the draft with a need and they adressed them for the most part along with free agency. Now im not saying that the bad teams from last year are dramatically improved for the better after one season, but they are improved and can be very tough to beat. I also think most ppl(Haters) are gonna dis-credit our season and team based off of our perceived "easy sschedule" Im not saying that we might lose alot of games if any, but I notice that ppl were making a "hot topic" out of our schedule and the fact that we just left the superbowl. The league makes the schedule we just play em.Your thoughts?

The only thing you can say is that they are facing the 2 worst division (you can argue 3, with the AFC east being the 3rd) historically for the last 3-4 years. Were are talking consistent top 20 pick teams across the board. Now of course they could all improve so it's no sure thing but given the consistency of the bad teams over the last 3-4 years it's less likely then a SB contender appearing out of the group.

Additionally they only have 2 long flights and different time zones, one of which they have the bye right after (Sea and Stl in London). Usually most teams will make multiple cross country trips so having basically all the games on the east coast in the same time zone is a marketable advantage

Another benefit is where the by is located. Not only is it right after a trip to London but it's smack dab in the middle of the season. That gives the players a good week of rest that isn't to soon in the season but also is early enough to let the coaches work on fundamentals without having to worry about the playoff push and messing up players routines.

They also play 3 of their last 4 at home which should get them momentum and fired up heading into the playoffs. Never discount the affect of closing out the season at home on a strong note can have on the players.

All in all on paper they travel less then any team, have a well positioned bye week, play the weakest divisions in the NFL over the last 3-4 years , and end at home. The stars are aligned for a strong season on paper. Doesn't mean it would be easy as we've seen the Pats fall into traps before, but they should have an easier path then going through the AFC North, NFC East, or NFC North

The biggest part of any 'strength of schedule' number is the three teams you play twice in your division, and it is the reason that the Jets, Miami, and Buffalo all have tougher schedules than NE - they each play NE twice and NE doesn't have to play themselves at all! The rest of the NE schedule by rule is tougher than the rest of the division because it is based on last years finishing positions.Now, who knows whether any of those three teams have really improved, but division games are never easy. If collectively those three teams improve by 4 wins, our SOS just got stronger by a total of 8 wins - that would be 9-7, 8-8, and 7-9, not exactly powerhouses, but would make a hug difference in the SOS calculation.

Pats will have to earn every win...no team is going to lay down against them...if they make it through the 1st 8 games undefeated then I can see them winning out the rest of the way...as long as key players stay healthy,& the D plays middle of the pack well in ALL aspects they look tough to beat....

There's a chance that the Patriots can lose any particular game. The football takes funny bounces.

Also, the mob likes to fix games by buying refs, specifically where the home underdog is scheduled to lose by less than 7 points. One part of BB's game plan is immediately benching any player who shows the slightest whiff of wanting to throw a game for the mob. This is 100% opposite from Belichick's preseason game plan, where some of the Patriots stalwarts will deliberately throw easy interceptions or drop fumbles in the second or third preseason game on BB's direct orders. Just watch! But don't expect the same thing to happen in the regular season. These deliberately horrid plays are designed to statistically make the Patriots look average and they tend to lull the other teams to sleep just a bit. Excuse me for speaking my mind but I call things as I see them. If I were coaching I'd do the same thing.

In any case, there isn't any game where I would favor the other team. 14-2, because stuff happens sometimes.

In Response to Re: Pats schedule may not be as easy as ppl think : They'd be lucky to get 50 yards against defenses of the likes of niners, texans, ravens and maybe even the jets. It will be TB throwing again.Posted by GEAUX-TIGRES

BJGE ran amuck on the Jets in Week 5 and he had 50 yards on 8 carries at halftime in the AFC title game.